New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-16
A WHITE HOUSE RECEPTION.
THE BRTCKLAYERs WAIT UPON MR.. CLEvE-
LAND.

ANOTHER QUESTION OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
| SOCIETY. GOSSIP.
WASHINGTON Jan. I5.-"wc've got the real democracy
mere now sure enough It beats last night and knocks
your society folks into the shaie remarked the
white House on Friday when the Bricklayers Union
pau thcr respects to the President There several
hundred men In the East Room waiting for the appear
ahce OF the Chief Magistrate, and watching the door with
curious. expectant interest There mstaking the
fact that they were workngmen. Whether they were
the real democracy" question admitting OF argu
ment They were clad with view to comfort rather
'nan FASHION, and there fine cloth, though here
and there one carried silk hat In his hand The beau
fui decorations OF the previous nights reception still
NAMED in the East Room. and the misty sunlight strug
ehg with the clouds after tho rainy morning came In
through the shade Of palms filling tho windows. The
room IL elf was the in all tho brilliant
hght but the scene had shifted and within few hours
had totally changed Tho glitter OF gold lace the shining
satns and sparkling jewels could find greater
trast than In the plain homey attire OF the workngmen,
coming 80 Immediately after. Yes guess the aris-
tocracy was hero last night the speaker
| tinued All OF these flowers fixed up
| Tor thein or course they don't have these
flowers and green bushes for every day. I'm glad
here Just In time to how they do these things Not
that any of us will be President though" He smiled
at the JEST looked the crowd and concluded tone
OF cheerful sefrespect But we're not badooking set
OF men. after ALL"
lie was right They were not bad-looking set OF
men," On the contrary they strong, hardhandod
men, with weather Drowned skins. but whose
enances could stand scrutiny honest daylight
There were perhaps fifty other visitors. and
the strangers that usually at the tweeky pub
lie receptions But the bricklayers with badges OF blue
SIX and gilt letters, were first invited by the two ushers
who attend the President these occasions TO "Step
forward. please" and they filled tho centre
OF the room. Each face turned to tho door rs
"A IN nd mn fhata nyob yphI n
sudden almost solemn silence fell upon the Mean
while the other visitors among the number pair OF
brides with the husbands took possession OF tho sofas
and chars and waited their with comfortable pa
tience. Tho brides young and pretty women Ono
declared herself Democrat and the other said with true
American frankness, " I'm Republican. don't care II
everybody else is q Democrat. I'm Republican. But
want TO see tho President, all the same"
The door finally opencd but IL must have been ahead OF
the President there minute two OF delay. and
In II the silence breahless. Certain ceremonies at
the White House, however formal invariably touched
with the ludcrous. Public haudshakng one because
OF the awe like soemnit, with which the people invest
IT, think the President Friday must have been iIn
pressed by the exceeding gravity OF the brckaycrs faces
massed before him. Had there been no Tiffany Amin
ster on The hoor the dropping OF pin could have boon
hard when he appeared. Then tho handshakng began
and tho grave expressions gave way 70 reassnriDg,
friendly smiles, by In quick almost noseess
succession. passed on In limo between the ushers.
The bricklayers wasted tnc and content 20
smile. bow and shake hands without conversation
mark But the visitor OF leisure sight seeing stranger
usual stopped for word" After dive minutes for
word" he added tn his parting grasp: " I'd Ike about
ten minutes with you. Mr. President I've lte matter
I'd Ike 10 talk To yon about" The cut flowers
tho mautles afforded "rcics" tho WIS.,
itors called them whilo they picked out the
freshest blossoms. and with quiet satisfaction
carefully pressed put them In little punches 10 carry
4 ia fair tn his a "A
10 secure the " relics" men. ono man tucked
bunch In thc band his hat then crossed tho room with
eliberaton and paid his respects 10 the President
Tho women speedily followed tho example. a large
going with her hands full OF scarlet poinsetta
leaves and ing herself In audible tones There
ri Just press these In my album 10 remember the
White House by" Probably the nowers saved the
lace curtains from tho in'atabie relic seeker The old
curtains had been picked" by visitors be quite
shabby timo before they replaced by the
present curtains. II might prove economy 10 keep cut
flower. in the East Room, order to furnish relies" TO
visitors Flowers from the White House conservatory
would he less expensive than lace curtains.
Official circles agitited a question of dinner
etiquette involving point at tho state dinner 70 he given
by tho President TO tho Diplomatic Corps. And yet IL
would seem that rules long established and fixed through
all former administrations not to be upset But
the Secretary OF state IL IL said, evidently thinks other
wisa when the President gives dinner in
honor OF tho Diplomatic Corps II is we'll known
that he escorts to the table tho wife
dean OF the corps II she IL absent or II the dean
has wife, the President takes the wife II the senior
minister. according To date OF service Tho dean escorts
10 the table tile hostess Of tho White House But tho
daughter Of foreign minister though the recognized
hostess OF her fathers house. does take the rank OF
minister's wife at the diplomatic dinners gwen by the
President The invitations 10 the diplomats are restricted
ministers acting mnlscrs Out OF the corps the in
vaons extend only to the Secretary OF state and the
chnrncn OF the Senate and House Foreign Affairs Com
II is the duty Of the Secretary OF state 10 pre-
the guests tho President, who receives them In
tho East Room. Blue Parlor he may prefer but
with this the Secrearys duty done, and at the dinner
table he Is simply OF tho guests having no more
prominence than tho chairmen Of the committees. OF
course tho wife OF the Secretary OF state and the wives OF
the carmen included IN the invitations understand
that Secretary Bayar has declared that the honor Of
taking IN the Presidents wife belongs TO tho Secretary
oil stat, and not to the dean OF tho Diplomatic
Corps. whom etiquette has accorded the honor for
many years back. Tho saying. there In nothing new
under the SUM- refued by Mr. Bayars new law OF ell
Quec. II Is well known that at dinner given In hogor
the Cabinet the Secretary OF State takes In tho White
House hostess The President escorts the secretarys wife,
he awe he then the President takes In the
wife OF the next ranking Cabinet officer which, OF course
IA the wife Of tho Secretary OF the Treasury The Same
law holds TO the dinners given In honor OF the Supreme
Justices The President takes In tho wife OF the
Chief Justice and the Presidents wife Is taken TO the
table by the Chief Justice In tho absence OF the latter,
the Associate Justice has the honor and his wife
taken Ina by the President The rule ut this time would
give the first places to Justice and Mrs Miller In tho
absence Of Chief Justice and Mrs Waite. When dinner
Is given In honor OF the Senate the question decided w
seniority OF service and tho honor OF first place gwen 70
the senior Senator Every place At the table would be de-
ced by this seniority rule II has heretofore been rather
plain sailing In tho forms OF etiquette at the White House.
and there have few disputed points to ye1 the peace
at dinners and receptions.
Now however the question OF first calls between the
Cabinet and Senate families sooner subsidies than
Secretary Bayard harrows up official circles with the
startling revelation everything has been going wrong
for half century, that he will make 1t his duty to
right tho wrong But will tho Secretary OF State put